Big glass and the age of new astronomy: the fight to put a monster telescope on Mauna Kea is part of a bigger war looming among astronomers

Author:

Hollier, Dennis

Title:

Big glass and the age of new astronomy: the fight to put a monster telescope on Mauna Kea is part of a bigger war looming among astronomers

Periodical:

Air & Space Smithsonian

Year:

2016

Subject:

Astronomical observatories Mauna Kea Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT)

Summary:

Mauna Kea summit is the home for 13 telescopes. In 2009, it was chosen to be the site for the Thirty Meter Telescope which will enable astronomers to see the most distant stars and exoplanets. However, some native Hawaiian consider the summit a sacred place and oppose the construction of TMT and even the extension of the summit lease, which expires in 2033. Within the astronomy community, not everyone is in support of ever bigger and costly telescopes, which might reduce the serendipity from basic exploration.

Label:

Mauna Kea - Astronomy

URL:

https://www.airspacemag.com/space/big-astronomy-how-built-180960364/?no-ist

Date:

September 2016

Collection:

Periodicals